Podcast Summary

On her start to 2016 in the Bahamas…

I don’t think anything can replace the experience I got in the Bahamas. I went in there and just wanted to have fun and I did. To finish T11 at the end of the week for the first tournament as a pro is truly a great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. I just had so much fun out there and you can’t ask for anything else when you are having fun and love what you do.

On the first experience being at an LPGA event as a pro…

My mind was going crazy, I had so many questions about everything under the sun. The LPGA did a great job in answering all the questions I had. They said they were here to help and I think that is great. Especially me, because I need all the help I can get from the veterans on Tour.

On expectations heading into the Bahamas…

I’m definitely confident with my game going into this season because my ball-striking has been very good and I’m trying to improve my putting still. I felt like my game was in a good spot (heading into Bahamas). Golf is a work in progress, but I am very satisfied with my finish in the Bahamas.

On how she got started in golf…

We started going to the range when I was five because I wanted to drive a golf cart. When we got there, I started hitting the ball with my own clubs and grips and my dad said ‘you can’t grip it like that’ but I told him it feels right. That’s is when he told me that if you’re going to do this sport you have to listen to me because the things that feel right probably aren’t the right things to do. From then on, he taught me the proper grips and I listened to him, sometimes better than other days, but it’s good to have him with me all the time. We look back on the days when I started to pick up golf and it was all because I wanted to drive a golf cart so it is crazy how far I’ve come.

On what her dad has meant to her…

It’s great to have my dad around, being my coach he has always kept me in line. I know when to goof around and when not to. He is such a goofball and we are both still learning. He keeps me grounded and we have fun even when it is not a great round he takes my mind off of it. We just have fun, even before big tournaments.

On if dad will be on her bag every week…

We joke around about how big the bag (staff bag) is. He wants to be on the bag this year and I think it is great to have him on the bag because it is good to have a familiar face and someone I am comfortable with on the bag for now. Hopefully he can make it all year. By the end of the year, either he’ll make it or we’ll try and find someone.

On her small stature (5 feet 1) but long drives…

I owe it all to my dad. He taught me from the get go to use my big muscles which are my legs and my shoulders. A lot of people try to over power things with their hands, but the strength in your hands can’t be stronger than my whole body. It’s great that he taught me how to use my whole body with the golf swing.

On dealing with financial struggles as an amateur…

I think not having the funds for all the tournaments that my friends played in really taught me that you need everything out here because you have only one tournament compared to the other five that friends had. I knew I had to play well if I wanted to play in the next invitational on the AJGA circuit. We would have this taught about not being in the best financial situation compared to some of my friends so we had to take advantage of all the opportunities we had. Without the struggles, I wouldn’t be where I am today with the strength I have. On and off the course, it is a good lesson I learned.

On the Junior Solheim Cup experience and Alison Lee…

It was a totally different experience because golf is normally an individual sport and I think to play as a team is a good change up sometimes. It was inspiring to see that Alison Lee was able to go from the Junior Solheim Cup straight to the actual Solheim Cup. I think that was very inspiring for all of us to see on the Junior Solheim Cup team.

On watching other teenagers win on the LPGA…

I played junior golf with Brooke (Henderson) and we were always competitive with each other. We watched Lydia win two tournaments at 17 years old and that was very inspiring because she is 18 or 19 and she is number one in the world. It is great to see that and it gives me a lot of motivation to try and catch up to her.

On why putting is most important in 2016…

The putter is definitely something I need to work on, but I think everyone kind of needs to work on that. Drive for show and putt for dough as the phrase goes. When it comes down to it and you need to make a 3-foot knee knocker for the win one day I want to make sure I am capable of making the knee knocker.

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